HC Deb 17 July 1893 vol 14 cc1709-10
MR. KEIR HARDIE

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, on the occasion of the Royal Wedding, on Thursday, the 6th of July, an officer of the Life Guards struck, with the blade of his sword, a man named Arthur Walker, of South Crescent Mews, Burton Crescent, W.C., who was in the crowd near Somerset House, and who sustained a severe wound on the head from the blow; and, if so, what steps have been taken in the matter?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

This was an unfortunate accident. The troops had very stringent orders to keep the streets clear; and I am informed that Mr. Walker was twice desired to move back. Instead of doing so he appears to have seized the bit-rein of the officer's charger; and the officer, whose horse had a light mouth, fearing it might become restive among the crowd, intended to strike his assailant with the flat of his sword to make him let go. The sword, however, unfortunately turned in his hand, and cut through Mr. Walker's hat, inflicting a slight scalp wound.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

Will any compensation be given?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I do not suppose the case is one in which any question of compensation will arise. It appears that Mr. Walker was in the act of refusing to obey a lawful order, and in the course of his refusal seized the officer's horse by the bridle, which was obviously a dangerous and improper thing to do.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

Will the right hon. Gentleman cause any independent inquiry to be made into the facts of the case? My information is totally different from that supplied to him.

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I have the information both of the police and of the officer himself. If the hon. Gentleman forwards any information to contradict that evidence in any respect, of course it will be considered.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

I will supply the evidence of six independent witnesses who saw the whole occurrence.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

With this remarkable confirmation of the representations made to him as to the liability of this pattern of sword to turn in the hands of the user, will the right hon. Gentleman re-consider the question of the advisability of continuing to issue this weapon?

[The question was not answered.]